How to Polish Brass Musical Instruments
Though music is an art based in sound, it's nonetheless important to many musicians to look their best when they are on stage. Part of looking classy and professional is keeping your instrument looking its best. For brass musicians, this means polishing the surface of your horn to a shine on a regular basis. Polishing a brass musical instrument doesn't take long and the difference it makes in the appearance of your instrument is well worth the effort.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Brass instrument
- Dish soap
- White vinegar
- Towels
- Instrument polishing cloth or chamois
- Polish
- Paper towels
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the correct polish type to use for your instrument. If your instrument is made from unlacquered metal, use brass polish. If your instrument is lacquered, use a lacquer polish. If you're not sure whether your instrument is lacquered, pay attention to whether it tarnishes and dulls to a matte sheen or stays shiny as it gets dirty; lacquer is used to keep metal shiny
-
2
Wash and dry your instrument. Use a bath of warm water and a small amount of dish soap, or add some white vinegar to the bath if you need to break up some more stubborn grime. Rub down the instrument with a washcloth as you clean it. Use a towel to dry.
-
-
3
Buff the instrument with a polishing cloth. Rub in circles to remove all traces of dust or water spots. Do not touch the instrument with your bare hands at this time to avoid leaving fingerprints (if necessary, wrap both hands in polishing cloths or use a polishing cloth mitten).
-
4
Apply some polish to a paper towel and apply it to the horn. Use a single paper towel and apply a dime-size amount of polish (adjust according to the instructions on the polish bottle). Rub the polish onto the surface of the instrument using a circular motion. Apply more polish as needed, but use sparingly for the best results.
-
5
Polish the nooks and crannies with cotton swabs. Rub a clean cotton swab over surfaces you just polished (don't apply polish directly to the swab, or you'll get too much), then work the tip of the swab into hard-to-reach areas of the horn, such as the metal braces and tight corners of the tubing and valves.
-
6
Remove excess polish by rubbing the instrument down with dry paper towels. Buff again to a shine.
-
1
